Last night, the following statement was made during the Vice Presidential debate regarding the decision of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to force virtually all employers to include sterilization and contraception, including drugs that may cause abortion, in the health insurance coverage they provide their employees:

“With regard to the assault on the Catholic Church, let me make it absolutely clear. No religious institution—Catholic or otherwise, including Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital—none has to either refer contraception, none has to pay for contraception, none has to be a vehicle to get contraception in any insurance policy they provide. That is a fact. That is a fact.”

This is not a fact. The HHS mandate contains a narrow, four-part exemption for certain “religious employers.” That exemption was made final in February and does not extend to “Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital,” or any other religious charity that offers its services to all, regardless of the faith of those served.

HHS has proposed an additional “accommodation” for religious organizations like these, which HHS itself describes as “non-exempt.” That proposal does not even potentially relieve these organizations from the obligation “to pay for contraception” and “to be a vehicle to get contraception.” They will have to serve as a vehicle, because they will still be forced to provide their employees with health coverage, and that coverage will still have to include sterilization, contraception, and abortifacients. They will have to pay for these things, because the premiums that the organizations (and their employees) are required to pay will still be applied, along with other funds, to cover the cost of these drugs and surgeries.

USCCB continues to urge HHS, in the strongest possible terms, actually to eliminate the various infringements on religious freedom imposed by the mandate.

Every thing he said is either being walked back by the WH, or is being contested by someone.

So just yelling, and laughing, and being a complete a$$ clown is what it takes to win?

Can somebody give this team of idiots a reality check.

regularguy

It appears the over-the-top boorish behavior was designed to cover up the blatant lies the left has to spew. That the whole strategery was meat for the base to stop the bleeding is very telling about the status of the Obama campaign. The dirty little secret is the Obama campaign, in addition to his entire record, is a total disaster being covered up by a sycophantic media. The debates are serving to expose the true nature of just how bad these two candidates really are.

Jim Scrummy

Uh huh, Joe Biden a Catholic? Sure Joey B, maybe a Catholic-in-name-only. What’s really amazing is somehow this dufus has a law degree? Syracuse University should be demanding it’s piece of paper back, since Joe “kid Scranton (which by-the-by is bankrupt…) Biden doesn’t know squat about the U.S. Constitution, particularly the 1st Amendment in regards to the Catholic Church.

Multitude

Unless the Catholic Church wishes to accept the fact that we now have Pope Biden, head of the American Catholic Church setting doctrine, they will need to send a much louder signal. Almost every Catholic I know is unaware their church is doing anything in opposition, and believe the President and VP are correct in doctrine.

Excommunicating Mr. Biden for his lies and misrepresentations would probably get the message out to the folks that the current Pope in the Vatican and leadership there is still in control and in opposition to this progressive fascism.

Txn4Evr

As Defender of the Faith, I am at a loss to understand why the Pope doesn’t threaten to excommunicate, Biden, Pelosi and selected Kennedy’s.

This would send a huge message to America and the world.

retired militaryq

“As Defender of the Faith, I am at a loss to understand why the Pope doesn’t threaten to excommunicate, Biden, Pelosi and selected Kennedy’s.

”

Selibus calls herself Catholic as well. I spoke to my pastor about this very issue. He stated he would be hard pressed to give communion to Biden if Biden showed up for it.

I told him I understand that we are supposed to try to save all souls but sometimes the good of the many outweigh the good of the one and I felt that the way the church was handling Pelosi, Biden, et al was just making things harder for everyone else who was trying to do the right thing.

snap boy

The democrats call people liars and murders by omission but the Catholic bishops will tiptoe around the flat-out lies made by Obama and Biden?

Ditto multitude. Unless my bishops get the balls to put this into parish bulletins, no Catholic democrat will ever know of it. And if the matter is of such importance to the bishops, why don’t they use a reverse ‘but’ (2008 – abortion is an important issue, but peace and justice, etc., you can vote for Barack Obama; 2012 – peace and justice issues are important, but our religious freedom is at stake here and now, so you can and should vote for Romney/Ryan (an actual pro-life practicing Catholic)). Romney states he will repeal Obamacare; hence, no need for lawsuits. And really, USCCB, if the Obama administration is urged into your position prior to the election, do you really believe that won’t change after the election, and change for worse. Will you really take anything this administration says at face value, really? Do you really believe they operate in good faith? Really?

I’m sure the men with the “little white jackets” were able to corral Joe last night and get him back to the sanitarium in time for “med rounds” and nighty-night! My daughter confirmed that Ryan communicated with Joe…..as a “Good Son” attempting to get “dad” back to the reservation after he crawled out of the window and escaped. Hats off to Ryan…..for maintaining his professionalism.

The same thing happened in the debate with Sarah Palin. VP Hairplugs was declared the debate winner even though he lied about nearly everything, inluding the French helping us kick Hezbollah out of southern Lebanon. It’s ridiculous how anyone could considered the dope won the debate.

Corbin Dallus

Not “inaccurate,” just brain dead Joe bLIEden LYING like usual.

Maudie N Mandeville

Hey, bishops. Quit your whining. You’re too late to the game. Your parishioners give you as much respect as you give the pope. The Catholic Church has long been a proponent, a surrogate, an accomplice in the socialist movement of America. Lie down in your bed. Your church is crumbling in your lifetime bc you’re all phony’s.

Joanne

Biden is such a liar. He was so desperate last night to not have Ryan put him on the spot. Loser.

Look-Out

I have tremendous respect for the Catholic Church and the Pope. I can’t imagine where this world would be without them. But, by NOT making prominant, politically powerful members accountable for their words and actions against their teachings, the Church may be doing as much damage as the errant members are doing by their faithlessness. That damage affects both those that err and those who would be led astray by them. There’s usually good reason to adhere to the laws and high standards originally required of us, rather than to loosen or ignore them.

Vicky Hernandez

dnb @ #12 & Maudie N Mandeville @ #18

Hear! Hear! And a big fat “ditto!”

“Inaccurate Statement” is the best their graces could come up with? Bunch of, of, of…. There are no words that could describe my disgust and frustration at the moment!

Patty

I was waiting for the Bishops to call this dishonest and clearly disgraceful VP? out.

Larkin

Biden doesn’t have to tell the truth, because HE’S A DEMOCRAT!!

I can’t believe that there are people who still don’t get this simple fact of life.

Timb

Wow, the Bishops put out a lying press release? Unless the Bishops own insurance companies, then their press release is wrong. Now, I bet we are all in favor of allowing them to keep their Methodist cleaning lady from getting birth control pills, but this is beyond the pale.

I hope the jerks lose their 501c3 status, since they are taking sides (and wrong) in politics